Goan roads are turning into death traps.
In the last five years 1,593 people have died due to roadmishaps and several others injured in the State.
This alarming death ratio could have been reduced to a largeextent with minor road engineering exercise on 50 deadly accident spots both inNorth and South districts of Goa.
“Minor improvement on roads that are accident prone canensure reduction in deaths in road accidents,” said Director of Transport, ArunDesai.
Going into specifics Desai said widening of roads anderecting crash barriers can go a long way. “Filling of potholes, widening ofintersections, providing minimum 90 degree turning space, improvement ofslopes, painting of rumblers, installing sign boards are some other elementswhich need attention,” Desai added.
According to Dessai in 2002 he had recommended to PWDwidening of a narrow culvert along NH-17A at Sancaole. “It has been lyingunattended for the last 10 years. I am pretty amused,” Desai said.
In a few days the Road Safety Council meeting will be heldchaired by Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar and Transport Minister, SudinDhavlikar. The meeting will ensure recommendation for formation of RoadEngineering Cell (REC) and immediate execution of work on improvement ofaccident prone zones.
“We have received a file for formation of REC and I havemarked it to the chief minister and the transport minister for its formation”said Chief Principal Engineer of PWD, J S S Rego.
According to the transport department to curb road accidentsis a two way process “ improvement of road infrastructure and self-disciplineamong motorists.
“The department will carry out an extensive campaign on roadsafety and the main focus will be on three ‘E’s, ‘educating’ motorist aboutroad norms, ‘engineering’ to improve accident prone zones and ‘enforcement’ ofdiscipline among motorists,” informed Desai.
“The PWD has done nothing to act on our recommendations tolook at accident prone zones and address road engineering issues,” said TrafficDySP GP Mhapane.
For instance a small stretch of around 5 km from Pirni toCortalim along NH-17, has three major accident prone zones and these zones canbe improved with minor road engineering work by widening road intersections andimproving of slopes, said Mhapane.
Incidently, Mormugao, despite being a small taluka has thelargest number of accident prone zones in Salcette. That’s mainly because three national highways passthrough it.
